It should come at no surprise that at Vodigy Networks, we could go on for days about the importance of cybersecurity. While we are very confident in all aspects of SMB (small and medium business) IT services, cybersecurity will always remain at the heart. Why? Because a major cybersecurity incident could end up compromising your entire IT infrastructure. Then you could end up with a much more costly problem than a simple breach.
With geo-political temperatures on the rise in certain areas of the world, Vodigy is making a big push to make sure all our clients are snug, secure, and on the same page about one really important topic – Multifactor Authentication (MFA).
Haven't we already talked about this?
We sure have. In fact, we strongly believe that we would be doing you and your business a disservice by understating the value of multi-layered security.
We have unfortunately reached a point where a username and password combination just aren’t going to cut it anymore. Especially in today’s geo-political climate where wars are being fought on multiple fronts, including the internet.
Due to a history of using cyber-attacks in the past, Madiant warns businesses via VDNET that ‘Russian cyber aggression could lead to attacks that spread far beyond Ukraine’. However, if you have a ‘robust security strategy in place, there’s no need to panic’.
What does 'robust' mean outside of tomatoes and wine?
When it comes down to it, robust means different things for different companies. Depending on the industry, security measures may need to be scaled up or down to be in accordance with industry standards. In the end, we want to help you build an infrastructure that remains strong and healthy. Not necessarily full of flavor however.
One of the ways we accomplish this is by enabling multifactor authentication for each user within your environment. This creates a multi-pronged approach to accessing both shared and individual company data.
While a strong username and password combination is great, they are still easily subjectable to brute-force attacks by cybercriminals. With MFA enabled, negative results of cyberattacks can be minimalized or completely negated by having that additional security in place.
As well, MFA can prevent transfer of malicious activities to other users within the network or company. That way the rest of your business can continue operating while we work diligently to solve things from the other end.
Multiple Ways to MFA
According to OneLogin there are three different main types of MFA.
- Knowledge – things such as a password or pin
- Possession – an additional physical method of authentication usually requiring a badge, dongle, or smartphone
- Inherence – biometric based authentication.
One of the most commonly used types of MFA platforms are a combination of knowledge and possession based. An exceedingly popular tool in this arena is Google Authenticator. This easy to download application goes on the user’s phone and provides a secure, one-time PIN to gain access to certain data or programs.
Google changes the pin for each user and connected application every 30 seconds. This is an insane leap up from your traditional username/password combinations. That little extra layer of security could even ward some enterprising cybercriminals away before they even start.
Additionally, Google Authenticator is an extremely user-friendly application. This helps immensely in transitioning team members that only occasionally use office technology or just simply struggle with organization.
Where is your badge?
Possession and inherence based require an additional physical representation of authentication to gain access. These can be anything from your average access keycard to biometric logins using fingerprints or retinal scans.
While secure, some users can find themselves frustrated if they often forget to bring the item they need to access certain data. An OTP (one-time password) application can sometimes negate the need for additional physical security. However, depending on your industry specific security standards additional layers of security may be non-negotiable.
Ready and waiting to help!
Changing up your security protocols can seem like a herculean effort. It takes time, diligence, and a general headache. However, there’s an easier way to get there
Vodigy sets the bar by providing top-notch cybersecurity to SMBs in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Let us do all the heavy lifting. We will help you decide on the best MFA solution for you and your business.
Give us a call today, we’d love to hear from you.
